TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by GReads!
The question of the week is:
Book to Movie: Which book turn movie do you
feel did the best adaptation? What about the worst?
I think
movie adaptations of books are a risky topic. Readers tend to love the book
version more and non-readers watch the films with something other in mind than
the comparison between book and film.
When I am
watching movie adaptations I usually read the book beforehand because I am one
of those who thinks books are better than films. There are also books I love so
much that I am not sure about seeing the film at all.
Everybody
talks about the Harry Potter films and that these films miss so many parts of
the books. That’s true but you should always remember that a film is between 60
and 120 minutes long and there will never be the whole story told. A film will
stick with the most important bits of the book and with those most important
for the plot and for understanding. I also think that the Harry Potter books
are wonderful and that there are some bits and pieces missing in the films but
these films are really good. You don’t have to read the book to understand the
movies.
I also
liked the adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley as Lizzy
Bennet. It is a wonderful and romantic film and the story is well told. Most of
us know the BBC adaptation with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy but for a movie the
shorter film version is perfectly shortened and well told.
Same
applies to Bridget Jones. Wonderful book, wonderful movie!
A film that
I found really irritating after reading the book was About a boy with Hugh
Grant. It was a good film no doubt about that but the ending is completely
different in the book. Why do I have to change the storyline when doing a film?
Don’t directors read books? I mean, come on! Changing basically one half of the
film – I don’t get that. I like the film but it does in no way resemble the
book.
I am not
sure if I answered this question in a satisfying way but I usually go to the
cinema but be entertained and not for mocking a book adaptation. I know that
you cannot compare a book to a movie so I normally don’t try.
This is the link to my photochallenge 2012!
Come join me!
I totally agree with you - I don't expect a movie to follow the book exactly - and sometimes I think what's the fun in that if you've already read the book. While I don't want the movie to lose the essence of the book - I don't mind it taking a few ... liberties.
ReplyDeleteI really like the Harry Potter film adaptations. Though by no means perfect, they carried along the main plot for each book quite well :)
ReplyDeleteNow you've got me. I have to read "About a Boy". I really loved the film and now I'm totally surprised by your statement. Yes I know - shame on me. But I will definitely read it in the next weeks.
ReplyDeleteDie Briten sind ziemlich gut im Buch zu Film. Am grauenvollsten fand ich die Verfilmungen von Eragon und Percy Jackson. So geniale Bücher sooo schrottige Filme.
ReplyDeleteÜbrigens nur kurz zur Klarstellung (weil angenommen nach Studienplatz klingt), ich will nicht an der TU Wien studieren (studiert habe ich schon genug;-) sondern dort arbeiten.